From March 18 to 19, Professor Xiaojun Zhang, Chief Officer of Education of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), and Dr. Jian Chen, Head of the Institute of Leadership and Education Advanced Development (ILEAD), visited our college for a two-day in-depth research and exchange on matters including co-creating the Dream Academy and promoting educational innovation and deep industry-education integration. Chair Yang Ping, President Yang Jie, and relevant college leaders accompanied the delegation. This visit marked the entry of both parties' cooperation into the substantive discussion stage, aiming to jointly explore a new paradigm of vocational education for the future.
Field Visits and High Praise for Educational Characteristics
On March 18, Professor Xiaojun Zhang's delegation first arrived at Qidingshan Campus of our college, conducting a comprehensive tour of the campus environment, teaching facilities, and practical training bases. During the visit, both sides engaged in in-depth intellectual exchanges on core topics including the college's social responsibility practices, core educational advantages, industry-education integration model innovation, and cross-regional resource sharing. The two experts gave high praise to the college's distinctive educational practices closely integrated with local economic development and the achievements obtained.
The following day, March 19, Professor Xiaojun Zhang and Dean Jian Chen continued their in-depth research at Daheishi Campus, focusing on visits to the Nursing Industry School and the School of Continuing Education and International Cooperation and Exchange. Through field investigations and on-site class observations, the two experts gained intuitive and profound understanding of the characteristic construction achievements of the college's nursing program and the diversified development paths of international education, laying a solid foundation for subsequent cooperation discussions.
Deep Consensus, Jointly Drawing the Blueprint for Educational Innovation
During two days of intensive exchanges and discussions, Professor Xiaojun Zhang and Dean Jian Chen comprehensively and systematically learned about the college's educational characteristics, current teaching status, deepening reform initiatives, and innovative assessment and evaluation systems. The two experts unanimously agreed that the college's active exploration and remarkable achievements in educational reform fully qualify it to join and deeply co-construct the Dream Academy. They expressed that they would fully leverage the Dream Academy's experience in vocational education innovation to empower Maple Leaf's future development.
Maple Leaf Proposal: Driving Lifelong Growth for Faculty and Students Through Innovative Models
Chair Yang Ping expressed great anticipation for co-establishing the Dream Academy with Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. She noted that Dalian Maple Leaf College of Technology is committed to influencing vocational education innovation in China and even worldwide. Through the Dream Academy as an innovative platform, the college plans to comprehensively introduce XJTLU's advanced concepts of student-centered, research-oriented, and integrated education, based on industry frontiers and future social needs, breaking the temporal, spatial, and disciplinary boundaries of traditional education. The college will systematically implement three characteristic models: interest-driven innovative talent cultivation, career-oriented talent cultivation, and sustainable on-the-job enhancement training. By providing personalized growth plans for current students, entrepreneurs, and working professionals, the college will achieve mutual growth for students and faculty. Its core goal is to explore a new educational pathway that empowers individual lifelong development, providing future-oriented, AI-supported, personalized, and interest-driven inclusive education solutions for working professionals and potential populations aspiring to innovation and entrepreneurship.
Deepening Cooperation, Jointly Opening a New Chapter in Vocational Education
Professor Xiaojun Zhang and Dean Jian Chen clarified during exchanges that after this trip, they would bring the research findings back to Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and actively promote the establishment of the Dream Academy at Dalian Maple Leaf College of Technology. Both sides share compatible philosophies and consistent goals, having reached consensus on cooperation directions through full discussions. Going forward, they will adhere to the principles of adapting to local conditions and customized solutions for each institution, combining Dalian Maple Leaf College of Technology's educational characteristics and regional industrial demands to jointly create a Dream Academy with distinctive Maple Leaf features.
This cooperation is not only an innovative supplement to existing educational models but also a forward-looking layout for the future vocational education ecosystem. Both sides deeply recognize that vocational education requires fundamental breakthroughs and needs to blaze a new development path through deep practice of industry-education integration. After all cooperation details are finalized and officially implemented, both parties will solemnly hold a signing ceremony to jointly initiate this far-reaching educational innovation practice and write a new chapter in industry-education integration and vocational education innovation.
